Hospital LOS was significantly decreased in all appendicitis pathway patients compared to historic controls.
For fiscal years 1995 and 1996, both PHIS NPApp and PHIS PApp patients from the authors' institution had significantly decreased LOS compared with PHIS database patients with the same diagnosis over that time period.
16% of patients pre-operatively diagnosed with acute non-perforated appendicitis were found, at surgery, to have appendicitis with peritonitis.
17% of patients underwent an abdominal CT scan as a result of not meeting discharge criteria on post-operative day 5.
5 CT scans demonstrated intra-abdominal abscesses, 4 of which were drained percutaneously and one surgically.
One PApp patient and 4 NPApp patients developed wound infections.